HISWACA Project Long-Term Master’s Scholarship Programme – September 2026 Intake 1393 views

The Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) Announces the Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West and Central Africa (HISWACA) Project Long-Term Master’s Scholarship Opportunities for September 2026 Intake 

Introduction

The Government of The Gambia, through The Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS), under the Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West and Central Africa (HISWACA) Project, The Gambia, is pleased to announce long-term Master’s scholarship opportunities for suitably qualified Gambian nationals for the September 2026 intake.

The HISWACA Project is a World Bank grant-funded initiative designed to support the strengthening, modernization, and harmonization of the National Statistical System (NSS). In The Gambia, the Project seeks to build a more robust, sustainable, and responsive statistical system by investing in human capital development, institutional capacity strengthening, and the advancement of technical competencies required for the production and use of high-quality official statistics. The scholarship programme is supported under the Project’s capacity-building and human capital development component and forms part of ongoing efforts to address critical skills gaps within The Gambia Bureau of Statistics and the wider National Statistical System. 

Through this initiative, the HISWACA Project will support long-term Master’s degree training in priority fields that are essential for improving statistical production, survey design and implementation, demographic analysis, economic statistics, labour market statistics, geospatial analysis, and evidence-based policy formulation in The Gambia.

Priority Areas of Study

Scholarships will be awarded for Master’s degree programmes in the following priority fields:

• Master’s in Survey Methodology
• Master’s in Social Statistics
• Master’s in Official Statistics
• Master’s in Demography
• Master’s in Applied Economics
• Master’s in Labour Economics
• Master’s in Geographic Information Systems

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be Gambian nationals;
• Possess a recognized Bachelor’s degree, preferably with a minimum of Upper Second-Class Honours or a minimum GPA of 3.0, in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Demography, GIS, or another relevant quantitative or social science discipline;
• Have secured an unconditional admission offer from a recognized university for a Master’s degree programme in one of the priority fields listed above;
• Demonstrate strong academic merit, professional commitment, and clear relevance of the proposed field of study to The Gambia’s statistical development priorities;
• Be willing to comply with the terms and conditions of the scholarship, including academic performance reporting and service obligations where applicable.

Required Application Documents

Interested applicants are required to submit a complete application package containing the following:

• A signed application letter;
• A detailed curriculum vitae;
• Certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts;
• A copy of the unconditional admission letter;
• A statement of purpose clearly explaining the relevance of the proposed study to The Gambia’s statistical development needs;
• A copy of a valid Gambian national identification document;
• Any other relevant supporting documents.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed through a competitive and merit-based process. Eligible applicants will be assessed based on academic merit, relevance of the proposed programme to national statistical development priorities, demonstrated commitment to public service, and potential contribution to strengthening The Gambia’s National Statistical System.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for further assessment and/or interview. Final award decisions will be made in accordance with the applicable HISWACA Project procedures.

Scholarship Obligations

Successful candidates will be required to sign a Scholarship Agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the award, including academic performance requirements, submission of periodic academic progress reports, and service obligations to support the National Statistical System upon completion of studies, where applicable. 

Submission of Applications

Interested applicants are required to submit their complete application package either in hard copy and/or by email to the address below:

The Project Coordinator
HISWACA Project Implementation Unit
The Gambia Bureau of Statistics
Mansa Musa Faal Tower

Bijilo, The Gambia

Email: mjannehhiswaca@gbosgov.org  smendyhiswaca@gbosgov.org hydarakutubhiswaca@gbosgov.org

Deadline for submission: Tuesday, 21st August 2026

Applicants submitting hard copies should ensure that all required documents are clearly labelled and enclosed in a sealed envelope marked: “Application for HISWACA Long-Term Master’s Scholarship Programme – September 2026 Intake.” Applicants submitting by email should include the same title in the subject line of the email. Late, incomplete, or improperly submitted applications will not be considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The HISWACA Project is committed to promoting equal opportunity, inclusion, and merit-based access to capacity-building opportunities. Applications are encouraged from all qualified Gambian nationals. Female candidates and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.